The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25
Das Krist Kinde,.

RepubIisbed by Request.1
had fed the fire and stirred it. till the sparkles in de-
Snapped their saucy little fingers at the chill Decem.
Der night
And in dressinggown and slippers, had tilted back
my throne
The old splitbottomed rocker-and was musing all
alone.
could hear the hungry Winter prowling round the
the tread of ufed footsteps on the white piazza
But the sounds came to me only as the rnurnnur of
That mingled with the current of lazy-fowing
dream.
Like fragrant incense rising eured the smoke of my
With the lamplght cleaning through it like mist
And gazed the vapor like curtain rolled away,
With sound of bells that tinkled and the catter of
sleigh.
And in vision painted like picture in the air
saw the efsh figure of a man with frosty hair
quaint old man that chucked with laugh as he ap
And with rudy cheeks like embers in the ashes of his
beard
He poised himself grotesquely. in an attitude of
On sdamask-covered hassock that sitting on the
And at a magic signal of his STUDY little thumb
saw the fireplace changing to bright proscenum.
And looking there 1 marveled as saw a mimic stage
Alive with little actors of a very tender age;
And very tiny that they tottered they
And spei and purled and gurgled like the brooklets,
when they talked
And their faces were ike lilies, and their eyes like
And their tresses like the shadows that the shine is
woven through;
And they each had little burdens and little tale to
OF fairy lore and giants, and delights delectable.
And they mixed and intermngled, weaving melody
Till the magic circle clustered round blooming baby
And they threw aside their treasures in an ecstacy of
And bent with dazzled faces and with parted lips to
Twas Fondrous little fellow with dainty double
And chubby cheeks, and dinples for the smiles to
blossom in:
And he looked as ripe and rosy, his bed of straw
As mellow little pippin that had tumbed in tho
weeds.
And saw the happy mother, and group surround
That knelt with costly presents of frankineense and
myrrh;
And I thrilled with awe and wonder. as a murmur on
the air
Came rfting DER the hearing in melody of prayer:
BIZ sprendor an the heavens aud the hush upon the sea-
Apd the majesty Of silence rei0nipg Gailee,-
We feel Thy kingy presence, and hun.bly the
knee
And lift hearts and voices in grateulaess to Thee
Thy messenger has spoken. fed aud
gone
As the spectral shadows Of the night before the
dG,cH;
Ind in the kindly shelter Of the light around draun,
We mould nestle dolrn toreUer the upon
You hare shepherd-You hare giUen a guide,
Ande light Of Hearen Ore,0 DINNER ichen You Him
from Your side
But He lead Thy children ,rhere the gates ,ciH
open ride
To retcorpe HIS returning ,een His oorks 0Eorfed.
By The spfendor an the hearens and the hush upon sea,
And the majesty Of silence regning Galilee-
We feel Thy kin9iy presence, aud hunabty boo
knee
Amd t our hearts and roices i 0rGtefuness 10 Thee
Then the vision slowly failing, wththe words of the
refrain,
Fell swooning in the moonlight through the frosty
window pane,
And heard the clock proclaning like eager
tiael
Who brings the world good tidings,-'It is Christmas
all is WELL"
james whitcomb Riley.